Camping fun offers diversion from cancer

Monday

This weekend 72 children who are living with cancer came to Camp Merry Times at Camp Ton-a-wanda to canoe, rock climb, roast s'mores, sing songs and have fun.

Children squeal as they hold a rope and zip down the wire across the lake with a whir. Others splash each other with paddles in canoes on the lake.

Music lofts from the recreation building as about 10 campers practice for the upcoming talent show, and on the other side of camp, children enjoy horse back riding, rock climbing, archery and tennis.

This weekend 72 children ages 4 to 18 from all over Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina came to Camp Merry Times at Camp Ton-a-wanda to canoe, rock climb, roast s'mores, sing songs and have fun.

They also are cancer patients.

'A family disease'

Barbara Van Thullenar and her husband, Ted, started the organization "Friends of Santa Claus" a non-profit organization that puts on the camp for four days over Memorial Day weekend for children with cancer and their siblings.

It's entirely free for the campers and the staff are all volunteers. Judy and Bill Haynes donate the location, Camp Ton-a-wanda, for the four days and provide support staff.

Campers and counselors are set up on a one-to-one ratio so each camper has his or her own counselor. A pediatric oncology and hematology doctor from Mission Hospital, two pediatric oncology nurses and a social worker are on site at all times. The medical staff can administer drugs, chemotherapy and handle any medical issues that arise, allowing parents to feel comfortable leaving their children for the weekend.

"When they are with us, they can be normal children," said Van Thullenar. "Cancer is a family disease and it affects every person in a different way."

Mothers and fathers are engaged with dealing with the child that has cancer. Siblings of the child with cancer are often put on the back burner and it's all very emotional and stressful, Van Thullenar said.

"Here, we get them away from the hospital, the shots, the doctors and try to provide a normal environment. And when the children are around other children with cancer and their siblings with the same issues, it gives them the chance to have a normal camp experience," she said.

Real camp

Van Thullenar said because of the financial strain cancer can place on a family, many of the children never get the chance to have a real camp experience. That's why the Camp Merry Times invites not only the cancer patients but their siblings, too. And parents are presented with a small gift of $70 to go out and have a nice dinner or get-a-way.

"It's just a wonderful thing, and it's given our son something to look forward to while he's been in treatment," said Renee Gidcumb.

Renee and Dewy Gidcumb brought their 7-year-old son. Joshua. to camp for the first time. Joshua was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his neck last August. Renee quit her job as a teacher and her husband quit working for Lowes and both parents spent three months caring for Joshua, while Dewy managed the farm they own in Waynesville.

"In the midst of his cancer treatment, every day, Joshua would rub the square on the calendar for Camp Merry Times and we'd count down the days," Renee Gidcumb said.

Their other son Caleb, 9, also came to camp.

"It's been hard on Joshua's brother Caleb. He's not very outgoing so we hope this camp will be good for him," she said.

And the children love it.

Anissa Hall and Erica Hollifield, both 12 years old, met at camp and say the high ropes zip line is their favorite activity. Hall was diagnosed with cancer at age 9 and Hollifield at age 5. They are now in remission and have been coming to the camp for several years.

"I have a blast and I forget about everything," Hollifield said.

Hall added that coming back each year, even as a cancer survivor, "feels awesome," because she can give back. "Everybody helped me and now I can help everybody."

'Peer support"

One reality of the experience is that some children pass away before they get a chance to come another year, said Van Thullenar. The camp counselors meet a day before camp starts and hold a ceremony to remember past campers and release balloons in their honor. So far, 31 campers have passed away in the 10 years the camp's been in existence.

Dr. Krystal Bottom is the doctor on site and also works at Mission Hospital.

"A lot of these kids are my patients at Mission and they really look forward to camp," she said.

"The first time I came, I cried because during the talent show, one of the kids who used to be a dancer was having trouble with her coordination because of the cancer medications, and to watch all the kids cheer her on and clap and support her, it was amazing," Bottom said. "Camp gives them something medications can't give them, families can't give them -- peer support."

Brian Sneed, 19, from Waynesville came to camp for the first time last summer after being diagnosed with leukemia. This summer he's a counselor-in-training.

"It's awesome, I have a blast," Sneed said. "It's so much fun and gets me away from everything."

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